The visa · Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria now has an express residence permit for non-EU remote workers, created by a June 2025 amendment to the Foreigners Act and open since late December 2025, alongside the older freelance, trade-representative and company routes and free movement for EU citizens. The nomad permit suits people earning roughly EUR 31,000 a year entirely from outside the EU, but it lasts two years at most and does not count towards permanent residence. The one thing to know before applying is that the visa is a two-stage process, a Type D visa from a consulate abroad and then a permit from the Migration Directorate within 14 days of arrival, and the whole thing routinely takes three months or more.
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The routes
Researched 6 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice
Nomad visa
Digital Nomad Residence Permit (Visa D + prolonged residence)
Разрешение за продължително пребиваване на дигитален номад (prolonged residence permit for a digital nomad), Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, as amended by the law promulgated in State Gazette No. 52 of 27 June 2025
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who work remotely by information technology for an employer, their own company or clients all based outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland and who can show a year of foreign income above the threshold.
- Income floor
- Average annual gross income of at least 50 times the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage for the previous calendar year, as written in the amending law. On the 2026 minimum wage of BGN 1,213 (EUR 620.20) that is about EUR 31,010 a year; advisers who read the test on the 2025 wage quote about EUR 27,550, so the operative figure is disputed between sources.
- Duration
- One year, extendable once for a further year; two years maximum, as the amending law and law-firm summaries read it.
- Cost
- Reported by advisers, not confirmed from the official tariff: Type D visa about EUR 100 to 120; residence-permit state fee EUR 20 to 100 depending on term; residence card EUR 23 to 46 depending on speed.
- Processing
- Type D visa typically four to eight weeks at the consulate (some report up to ten); residence-permit decision up to 14 days by statute, extendable by a month in complex cases; card three to 30 days. Whole process commonly exceeds three months.
- Eligibility
- Third-country national; one of three categories: (1) employee of a company registered outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, with any fixed-term contract running at least as long as the permit; (2) owner of more than 25% or board member of such a company, managing it remotely; (3) freelancer with at least one year of remote service to non-Bulgarian clients. Clean criminal record, health insurance valid in Bulgaria and Schengen (advisers report EUR 60,000 minimum cover), proof of accommodation, passport with at least six months' validity.
- Work rights
- Remote work for employers, companies and clients outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland only. The holder may not work for a Bulgarian employer or provide services to persons or entities on Bulgarian territory; no access to the Bulgarian labour market.
- Dependants
- Spouse and children may apply under the general family-reunification provisions by separate application; the amending law does not create a dedicated family route for nomads and law firms describe reunification as available 'under specific conditions'.
- Leads to
- No. Advisers state the two years do not count towards long-term or permanent residence; after the second year the holder must switch to another basis (company, single permit, EU Blue Card) or leave.
- Apply
- Stage one: Type D visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in the country of citizenship or habitual residence (VFS Global centres in many countries). Stage two: prolonged residence permit in person at the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior or a regional migration office within 14 days of arrival.
Documents Type D visa application form and passport photos · Passport valid at least six months with blank pages · Twelve months of income evidence: bank statements, payslips or tax returns showing the 50-minimum-wage average · Category evidence: employment contract, company ownership papers, or freelance contracts and invoices covering at least one year · Criminal record certificate, apostilled and translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator · Health insurance valid in Bulgaria and the Schengen area · Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria (lease, deed or booking) · In Bulgaria: Migration Directorate application form, visa and entry-stamp copies, address registration, proof of state fee
Freelance / self-employed
Freelance / self-employed permit (Visa D via Employment Agency permission)
Разрешение за извършване на дейност на свободна практика (permission to pursue freelance activity), Employment Agency, under the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act and the Foreigners Act
Non-EU nationals who want to sell services to Bulgarian clients or run a local practice, which the nomad permit forbids; it demands Bulgarian language and a vetted business plan, so few pure remote workers use it.
- Income floor
- No published fixed sum; the Employment Agency assesses financial resources and a detailed activity plan for the term of the permit, weighing its economic and social impact.
- Duration
- Permission valid for a maximum of one year, renewable up to a total of three years; after three years the holder must spend one month outside Bulgaria before reapplying. The residence permit tracks the permission and must be renewed no later than 14 days before expiry.
- Cost
- Employment Agency and Migration Directorate state fees apply; exact 2026 amounts not verified from the official tariff.
- Processing
- Not published for the Employment Agency stage; consular Type D stage four to eight weeks as for other D visas.
- Eligibility
- Detailed activity plan; education and qualification documents; at least two years' professional experience in the activity; Bulgarian language certificate at level B1 of the Common European Framework; proof of funds; clean record and health insurance for the residence stage.
- Work rights
- Self-employed work in Bulgaria for Bulgarian and foreign clients within the permitted activity; no salaried employment without a separate permit.
- Dependants
- Family reunification available under the general Foreigners Act rules once the holder has a residence permit.
- Leads to
- Yes. Five years of continuous legal residence, without absences of more than six consecutive months or ten months in total, qualifies for permanent residence.
- Apply
- Employment Agency (Агенция по заетостта) for the permission, then Type D visa at a Bulgarian consulate abroad, then Migration Directorate for the residence permit.
Documents Detailed plan of the freelance activity for the permit term · Diplomas and qualification certificates · Evidence of at least two years' professional experience in the activity · Bulgarian language certificate, minimum B1 · Proof of financial resources · Passport, criminal record certificate, health insurance and accommodation proof for the Visa D and residence stages
Residence
Trade Representative Office (TRO) representative, Visa D
Търговско представителство на чуждестранно лице (trade representative office of a foreign entity), registered at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; residence under the Foreigners Act
Owners or senior staff of an established foreign company who want a renewable residence basis without local hiring; since June 2025 only companies with real turnover and a physical office qualify.
- Income floor
- Not a personal income test. The foreign company must show tax compliance and annual turnover of at least EUR 51,130 in each of the two years before registering the office, as tightened in the June 2025 amendments.
- Duration
- Prolonged residence for one year, renewable while the office remains registered and active; activity is now verified at renewal.
- Cost
- BCCI registration fee plus Visa D and residence-permit state fees; 2026 amounts not verified from the official tariff.
- Processing
- BCCI registration first, then consular Type D (four to eight weeks reported), then Migration Directorate within 14 days of arrival.
- Eligibility
- Appointment as representative of a foreign company registered with the BCCI; maximum two representatives per office may obtain residence; mandatory physical office in Bulgaria; company turnover and tax-compliance evidence; clean record, insurance and accommodation.
- Work rights
- Representation of the foreign company only; a TRO may not trade in Bulgaria and the representative may not take Bulgarian employment without a separate permit. Remote work for the parent company abroad is the normal use.
- Dependants
- Family reunification available under the general Foreigners Act rules.
- Leads to
- Yes, in principle: five years of continuous prolonged residence can qualify for permanent residence under the general rules.
- Apply
- Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for registration; Bulgarian consulate abroad for Visa D; Migration Directorate for the permit.
Documents BCCI registration certificate of the trade representative office · Company documents and evidence of turnover of at least EUR 51,130 in each of the two prior years · Tax-compliance certificates of the foreign company · Appointment of the representative · Lease for a physical office in Bulgaria · Passport, criminal record certificate, health insurance and accommodation proof
Residence
EU / EEA / Swiss citizen registration
Удостоверение за продължително пребиваване на гражданин на ЕС (certificate of prolonged residence of an EU citizen), Act on Entering, Residing in and Leaving the Republic of Bulgaria by EU Citizens and their Family Members
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who intend to stay beyond three months; the standard route for European remote workers and freelancers.
- Income floor
- none published as a fixed sum; proof of means or economic activity and health insurance under the free-movement rules.
- Duration
- Certificate for up to five years; permanent residence after five years of continuous residence.
- Cost
- Small state fee for the certificate and card; exact 2026 amount not verified.
- Processing
- Reported as same day for the paper certificate and about two weeks for the plastic card.
- Eligibility
- EU/EEA/Swiss nationality; proof of accommodation (signed lease or notarised landlord declaration); health insurance; means or activity.
- Work rights
- Full: employment, self-employment (register a свободна професия at BULSTAT) and remote work for any client.
- Dependants
- Family members, including non-EU spouses, register under the same Act.
- Leads to
- Permanent residence after five years; citizenship by naturalisation after five years of permanent residence under the Bulgarian Citizenship Act.
- Apply
- Migration Directorate or regional migration office in Bulgaria, after arrival; no consular stage.
Documents Passport or national ID card · Signed lease or notarised declaration from the landlord · Health insurance evidence · Application form at the Migration Directorate
Residence
Business owner Visa D (Bulgarian company with 10 local jobs)
Продължително пребиваване на основание търговска дейност (prolonged residence on grounds of commercial activity), Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act
Founders who will actually build a Bulgarian company with a local payroll; rarely practical for a solo remote worker.
- Income floor
- No personal floor; the company must employ at least ten Bulgarian nationals full time, or the investment must reach at least EUR 512,000.
- Duration
- Prolonged residence for one year, renewable while the conditions hold.
- Cost
- Visa D and residence-permit state fees; 2026 amounts not verified from the official tariff.
- Processing
- Consular Type D four to eight weeks reported, then Migration Directorate within 14 days of arrival.
- Eligibility
- Registered Bulgarian company (EOOD/OOD) with ten full-time Bulgarian employees or qualifying investment; clean record, insurance, accommodation.
- Work rights
- Managing the Bulgarian company; local employment in another company requires a separate permit.
- Dependants
- Family reunification under the general rules.
- Leads to
- Yes, five years of continuous residence can qualify for permanent residence.
- Apply
- Bulgarian consulate abroad for Visa D, then Migration Directorate in Bulgaria.
Documents Company registration extract from the Commercial Register · Evidence of ten full-time Bulgarian employees (contracts, NRA declarations) or of the investment · Passport, criminal record certificate, health insurance and accommodation proof
Other route
EU Blue Card (local employment)
Синя карта на ЕС (EU Blue Card), Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act
Non-EU professionals who take a job with a Bulgarian employer, including former nomads whose two-year permit has ended.
- Income floor
- Contract salary of at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary published by the National Statistical Institute; 2026 estimates range from about EUR 1,635 to EUR 2,054 a month depending on the reference period used, so the figure is disputed between sources.
- Duration
- Up to the length of the contract plus three months, within statutory maxima; renewable.
- Cost
- State fees for the Blue Card and residence card; 2026 amounts not verified.
- Processing
- Employment Agency decision then Migration Directorate; statutory and typical timings not verified.
- Eligibility
- Higher-education qualification or recognised experience; employment contract with a Bulgarian employer meeting the salary floor; clean record and insurance.
- Work rights
- Local employment with the sponsoring employer; change of employer subject to notification or approval rules.
- Dependants
- Family reunification available immediately under the Blue Card rules.
- Leads to
- Yes; Blue Card time counts towards EU long-term residence and Bulgarian permanent residence.
- Apply
- Employment Agency and Migration Directorate; consular Visa D if applying from abroad.
Documents Employment contract meeting the salary threshold · Higher-education diploma or proof of qualifying experience · Passport, criminal record certificate, health insurance and accommodation proof
Without a visa, by passport
The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated
- EU / EEA / SwitzerlandFree movement; register at the Migration Directorate after three monthsRemote work and self-employment fully permitted; freelancers must register at BULSTAT and the National Revenue Agency.
- United Kingdom90 days in any 180 across the whole Schengen area, since Bulgaria's full accession on 1 January 2025UK government advice says business meetings are allowed but working needs a separate permit or visa; remote work for a UK employer is not addressed in Bulgarian published rules and is treated as grey.
- United States90 days in any 180 (Annex II, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806), Schengen-wideNo Bulgarian rule addresses remote work on a short stay; grey. Anything for a Bulgarian client or employer requires a permit.
- Canada90 days in any 180 (Annex II), Schengen-wideSame position: not expressly permitted or forbidden; local work requires a permit.
- Australia90 days in any 180 (Annex II), Schengen-wideSame position: grey for remote work, forbidden for local work.
- Brazil90 days in any 180 (Annex II), Schengen-wideSame position: grey for remote work, forbidden for local work.
- Japan90 days in any 180 (Annex II), Schengen-wideSame position: grey for remote work, forbidden for local work.
- IndiaVisa required (Schengen C visa via VFS Global); only diplomatic and official passports are exemptA C visa is for tourism or business meetings; working, including remote work, is not a permitted purpose as published.
- South AfricaVisa required (Annex I, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806)Same position as India.
- TurkeyVisa required (Annex I)Same position as India.
Tax
When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer
- Residency trigger
- Under Article 4 of the Income Taxes on Natural Persons Act a person is resident if present in Bulgaria more than 183 days in any twelve-month period, counting the day of arrival and departure, and becomes resident for the year in which the 183rd day falls. Independently, a person with a permanent address in Bulgaria is resident if their centre of vital interests (family, property, place of work or business, place from which assets are managed) is in Bulgaria; a permanent address alone does not make a resident whose vital interests lie elsewhere. Where a double-taxation treaty applies, its tie-breaker prevails over domestic law.
- Special regime
- No special newcomer or nomad regime. The general rules are a 10% flat personal income tax on worldwide income for residents; self-employed freelancers deduct 25% notional expenses without receipts (40% for authors, 60% for registered farmers), giving an effective 7.5% on gross professional income. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 at the fixed rate; the tax rates were unchanged.
- Social security
- Bulgarian-resident freelancers register at the National Revenue Agency within seven days of starting (form OKD-5) and pay contributions of roughly 27.8% to 31.3% on a chosen base between the minimum and maximum insurable income: EUR 550.66 to EUR 2,111.64 a month for January to July 2026, rising to EUR 620.20 to EUR 2,300 from 1 August 2026 under the 2026 state social-insurance budget. EU/EEA nationals can keep home cover with an A1 certificate for up to 24 months; non-EU remote employees are subject to Bulgarian contributions unless a bilateral social-security agreement provides otherwise. Digital-nomad permit holders remain non-resident for tax until they meet the residency tests.
- Treaties
- Bulgaria has more than 70 double-taxation treaties, including with the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey among others; the Ministry of Finance and National Revenue Agency publish the list. For a remote employee or contractor the treaty decides residence when both states claim it and allocates employment income to where the work is physically done, so a resident working from Bulgaria is normally taxed in Bulgaria with credit or exemption abroad. A tax-residency certificate from the National Revenue Agency takes about a month.
Practicalities
- Address registration
- Every foreigner must be registered with the local police within three days of arrival; a hotel does this automatically, a private host and the guest sign a registration card together. Fines up to BGN 2,000 (about EUR 1,023) per person for the foreigner and the host are reported.
- Residence permit timing
- Holders of a Type D visa apply for the residence permit at the Migration Directorate within 14 days of arrival, in person; renewals are filed no later than 14 days before expiry.
- Personal number and tax number
- The residence certificate or permit comes with a personal number for foreigners (ЛНЧ), which doubles as the tax identifier. Freelancers additionally register at the BULSTAT register of the Registry Agency (electronic fee around EUR 5) to invoice, then file OKD-5 at the National Revenue Agency within seven days.
- Health insurance
- Non-EU applicants must hold insurance valid in Bulgaria and the Schengen area for the visa and permit; advisers report a EUR 60,000 minimum for the nomad permit. Residents who register as self-insured pay into the public health fund through the social contributions above.
- SIM registration
- Prepaid SIMs are sold only against a passport or ID, which is registered at purchase; no further paperwork for visitors.
- Overstay penalties
- Overstaying the permitted 90 days carries a fine of BGN 500 to 5,000 (about EUR 256 to 2,556), doubled to BGN 1,000 to 10,000 for a repeat, under the Foreigners Act; since 31 March 2024 an overstay is also reported to trigger a five-year entry ban, and Schengen-wide records apply.
- Borders and money
- Bulgaria is a full Schengen member since 1 January 2025 and the EU Entry/Exit System now takes fingerprints and a photo from non-EU visitors at the border. The euro has been the currency since 1 January 2026.
Bulgaria: a new nomad permit, a 10% flat tax and the euro
Where remote workers base and why
Sofia remains the main base, with the densest supply of coworking space and the only Migration Directorate office most applicants deal with. Plovdiv draws people who want a smaller, cheaper city with a working cultural scene. Bansko has a year-round nomad community grown out of its ski season, and Varna and Burgas fill up on the Black Sea in summer.
The pull is arithmetic as much as lifestyle: a 10% flat income tax, an effective 7.5% for registered freelancers, rents well below western European levels and, since January 2026, prices in euro without exchange friction. Full Schengen membership since January 2025 means a Bulgarian permit also removes border checks to the rest of the area.
What applicants report about the process
The nomad permit is a two-stage procedure and the consular stage is the slow part: law firms and applicants put the Type D visa at four to eight weeks, sometimes ten, before the 14-day window to file at the Migration Directorate even opens. Personal attendance is required at the second stage. Advisers consistently warn against signing non-refundable leases before the visa is issued.
Documents are the usual failure point. Every foreign document must be apostilled and translated by a sworn translator, and the income evidence must show an average over the previous year, not a single month. Because the statute pegs the test to the minimum wage of the previous calendar year, sources disagree whether a 2026 applicant needs about EUR 27,550 or EUR 31,010; applicants report consulates applying the current-year figure.
The older freelance route is rarely used by remote workers because it demands Bulgarian at level B1, two years of experience and a plan assessed by the Employment Agency. The trade-representative route, once the default workaround, lost its appeal in June 2025 when the foreign company had to show EUR 51,130 of turnover in each of two years and keep a physical office.
Banking and daily money
Opening an account as a non-resident is possible but easier once a personal number for foreigners and a residence certificate exist; freelancers need those before the BULSTAT registration that lets them invoice. Registration of the whole freelance stack, from residence certificate to invoicing, is reported at three to five weeks for EU citizens.
Social contributions are the hidden cost of the 10% headline. A self-insured freelancer pays roughly 28% to 31% on a chosen base of at least EUR 620.20 a month from August 2026, capped at EUR 2,300, so the effective total burden at modest incomes is far above 10%. Missing the seven-day OKD-5 registration brings a fine and locks the person out of sickness cover until the next year.
What is changing
The nomad permit is less than a year old and its weakest point is the two-year ceiling with no path to permanent residence; law firms expect a switch to company or Blue Card status to be the norm for people who stay. The government's July 2026 draft amendments deal with the single permit and EU asylum-pact screening rather than nomads, but they are the next vehicle for any tweak.
Fees and thresholds now move in euro. The minimum wage is set each year and drives the income test; the social-insurance minimum already rose once in 2026, in August. The Entry/Exit System is live at Bulgarian borders, so 90/180 overstays are recorded automatically across Schengen.
Researched from dv.parliament.bg · mfa.bg · home-affairs.ec.europa.eu · home-affairs.ec.europa.eu · legaldl.com · mhlegal.eu · innovires.com · globetrender.com · sofiaglobe.com · sofiaglobe.com · the authority